Thanks everyone. Andy that's a great tip! So far I haven't found skinned almonds here Jennyema. And the almonds here are expensive and aren't of good quality -- I don't know why but about 30-40% of the batch is consistently rancid. So I buy when I travel. My stock in the freezer now has skin on.

I have a friend who's going to Dubai soon. I'll try to ask him to buy some for me. No doubt the almonds there are of great quality.